Submitted photos – Neil Moon (third from right) at his letter signing ceremony this week.

By Ray Hamill — Two very different but uniquely similar players are switching roles at College of the Redwoods this year, as one gets set to take his talents to a four-year program and the other gets ready to begin his collegiate journey.

Former Fortuna Husky Alfonso Medina, who enjoyed two outstanding seasons playing men’s basketball for the local community college, has announced he will be playing for Colorado Mesa next winter.

Helping to fill that void is McKinleyville senior Neil Moon, who this week signed his letter of intent to play for CR and head coach Justin Claus.

Moon has enjoyed a stellar career playing at both Hoopa and McKinleyville high schools, and Claus is relishing the prospect of adding his unique talents and mindset to the 2026/27 roster.

Both players not only have the talent to impact their new teams, but both also possess an effervescent love for the game.

“He’s so talented, but he just doesn’t ever make it about himself,” Claus said of Medina, who was an all-conference player in both seasons playing at CR. “He has a real earnest joy for basketball and loves to be out there with his teammates.”

The CR coach believes that will help Medina succeed with the Division-II Mavericks. 

“I think that’s something everyone at Colorado Mesa is going to appreciate,” Claus said. “Everything about Alfonso is what you wish to have in a player.”

Likewise with Moon, whom Claus and his coaches have been watching closely during his two years at McKinleyville.

The Panthers team captain played a key role on the march to a first-ever outright Big 5 championship for the program this past winter, but his impact goes well beyond his skill level.

Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Neil Moon

Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Alfonso Medfina

“For all his talents, he never seems to make the game about himself,” Claus said. “And I think that translates off the court as well. He wants to be a part of something bigger. He’s a great guy, he’s respectful and he also appreciates the community.”

As a freshman, Medina helped lead the CR men to a Golden Valley Conference championship, and he continued to play a key role this past winter as Redwoods pushed Feather River all the way in the race for the conference title.

Medina averaged 12.7 points a game as a sophomore and he joins a Colorado Mesa team that enjoyed plenty of success this past year, finishing 21-11 overall and 15-5 on the way to tying for second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Asked whether he feels this is a good fit for Medina, Claus replied “absolutely.”

“This is a place he was interested in, and to see him go play for a team he was interested in makes us very happy,” the CR coach said. “He’s one of my favorite players and just a great person.”

Moon, meanwhile, averaged 11.4 points a game in his final high school campaign, as the Panthers claimed a Big 5 and Dick Niclai Tournament double championship.

As a team captain, he also led the Panthers in assists and steals per game.

But it’s the intangibles that put him on CR’s radar.

“He’s very unique,” Claus said. “He has a maturity and confidence to his game that you can only get when you play in a lot of different environments as a player. He has a unique approach to basketball.”

Claus and his assistants have been busy on the recruiting trail this spring and will feature a lot of freshmen next winter after having to replace several influential sophomores from last year’s team.

And with that in mind, it remains to be seen just what role Moon will fill when the team begins summer classes next month.

“I think he’s a natural point guard, both in his skill set and approach to basketball,” Claus said.